Distraught Family Finally Speaks After Son, 8, Died In Boston Bombings

Martin Richard’s family relives the moment he was taken from them after a bomb went off right underneath his feet at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Now, one year after the tragedy, Martin’s father Bill has confessed he often wishes his son were killed in a ‘random car accident’ as opposed to the marathon, which will happen every year for the rest of their lives.

Martin Richard, 8, was the youngest victim killed when a bomb went off underneath him at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Now, on the first anniversary of the tragedy, his family is speaking out in their first-ever interview about the terrorist attack that changed their lives forever.

Martin Richard’s Family Speaks Out

Watching the Boston Marathon every year was a tradition for the Richard family. On April 15, 2013, the whole family was against the barricade when the first bomb went off, shocking everyone around them.

Now, just days before the one year anniversary, Bill and his family, including wife Denise, and their two remaining children, Jane and Henry, have decided to publicly speak out about their loss.

“It’s unfortunate that Martin didn’t die in a car accident on a random night,” Bill told the Boston Globe. “Martin died at the Boston Marathon. The Marathon is going to happen every year, and it’s going to be public, whether we like it or not.”

It’s a heartbreaking confession from a father who has suffered the unspeakable loss of his child.

Bill Waited Over 48 Hours Before Needed Surgery

After the attack ravaged his family, Bill was the rock that kept everyone together. Though he suffered from burns and had shrapnel lodged inside his leg, he refused medical treatment while his family was being treated.

Jane, who underwent emergency surgery after losing her leg, was put into a medically induced coma at the end of the day to keep her stable. Bill’s wife Denise was on another floor of the hospital after shrapnel hit her in one eye, blinding her.

Once he was able to visit Denise and see that she was okay, and after doctors treated Henry for minor cuts and burns, doctors were finally able to convince him to undergo surgery. Sadly, he was too anxious to undergo surgery, and as doctors put him under anesthesia he tried to fight it off. Doctors urged him to relax, but he protested.

“Relax?” he barked at the doctors, infuriated. “My son is dead. How can I relax?”

Now, one year later, the Richard family continues to cope with Martin’s death together. Though they have suffered grave amounts of loss, their main goal is to move on and keep Martin’s positive spirit alive.